John MacDonald: The Minister for the South Island is (rightfully) ducking for cover - Canterbury Mornings with John MacDonald

The Minister for the South Island is ducking for cover. I probably would be too, if I was him.

Because he knows it’s going to be very difficult to defend the pitiful share the South Island is getting from the Government’s latest $1.2billion funding round for new roads and roading upgrades.

The south island has been virtually shut out, with just 6 percent of the money going to projects here.

The Hope Bypass, near Nelson, is the only one south of Cook Strait. With no mention of making State Highway 1 north and south of Christchurch four lanes, which regional leaders say is needed.

Leann Watson from Business Canterbury is saying that, considering the South Island’s contribution to New Zealand’s economy, it doesn’t sound fair. And she’s spot on.

In fact, I think she’s being generous. It’s a rip-off.

Tell that to Transport Minister Chris Bishop, though, who says the Government can’t do everything at once and needs to prioritise roading projects.

But there’s at least one road in the South Island that needs to be given much higher priority - which everyone seems to have been banging-on about for ages. State Highway 1 between Christchurch and Ashburton is an absolute shocker.

It’s a stretch that South Island Minister James Meagher will know only too well.

How many times do you reckon he’s driven on that road since becoming an MP and since becoming the minister who's supposed to be in Wellington advocating for us?

The guy who seems to have gone to ground and who hasn’t been available to respond to media inquiries about this South Island road funding debacle.

No wonder he hasn’t been available. Because it is indefensible.

At least the transport minister is fronting. Not only saying that the Government can’t do everything at once but also saying that the roads that have got funding - 94 percent of them in the North Island - are getting the green light because they are what he calls “top priority corridors”.

He says they're top priority because they will boost freight movement, increase safety and lead to economic growth.

But let’s just test that.

Would a 4-lane highway between Christchurch and Ashburton already boost freight movement? Of course, it would.

What about safety? Would a 4-lane highway be safer, compared to the 2-lane goat track we’ve got at the moment? That’s a no-brainer.

And what about economic growth? Would a 4-lane highway between Christchurch and Ashburton do good things for the economy? Do I even need to answer that one?

The Government’s argument for 94 percent of this new road funding going to the North Island doesn’t stack up.

LISTEN ABOVE

Note: Minister Meager did issue a statement - however it was not initially reported. See below the Minister's full statement:

“I’m very pleased with yesterday’s confirmation of a near $1.2 billion for the next stage of our Roads of National Significance (RoNS) programme.

“The Hope Bypass project is significant for the South Island. SH6 is a vital connection for our people and goods to get around, and this bypass will help boost economic growth in Nelson Tasman. It will also bring wider economic benefits for the region; through the jobs the project will create.

“It’s important to note yesterday’s update is just one part of the Government’s ongoing infrastructure work programme.

“Developments continue on the Belfast to Pegasus and Woodend Bypass (a RoNS), with a FTAA application being worked through currently.

“The South Island is also well-represented with six projects in the Roads of Regional Significance (RoRS) work programme, with the Queenstown upgrade package and five Canterbury RoRs:

• SH76 Brougham Street Upgrades
• S75 Halswell Road Improvements
• SH1 Rolleston Access Improvements
• The second Ashburton Bridge

“We’ve also committed to important South Island roading infrastructure outside of the RoNs and RoRs programmes, like a replacement bridge for Christchurch’s Pages Road, which I announced $38.5 million of Government funding for in August.”

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